SANTA CLARITA : ‘Slow Order’ Causes Metrolink Delays

The potential for rain-related accidents prompted Southern Pacific railroad officials to require Metrolink trains Monday morning to travel no faster than 50 m.p.h. on the Santa Clarita and Ventura County lines, delaying the services for as much as 25 minutes, Metrolink officials said.

The tracks for the Metrolink lines from Moorpark and Santa Clarita to downtown Los Angeles are owned by Southern Pacific, which is also responsible for dispatching the trains, said Metrolink spokesman Peter Hidalgo.

He said Southern Pacific issued a “slow order,” setting the top speed for trains on those lines at 50 m.p.h. Metrolink trains are normally allowed to cruise at up to 79 m.p.h., Hidalgo said.

The order delayed Metrolink trains arriving at downtown Union Station by up to 25 minutes, he said. The order was not in effect for the afternoon commute, Hidalgo said.

The San Bernardino line, stretching from Claremont to downtown Los Angeles, was not delayed because those tracks are owned and operated by Metrolink, he said.